Chapter 28

Emma noticed a pungent aroma that stung her nose as soon as she entered the house. She glanced at each companion and all appeared to be fighting back a grimace of disgust. Aedan addressed the only person in the room. "Are you Brother Genitivi?"
The man shook his head. "No, I'm his assistant Weylon."
Weylon looked nervous, and his eyes held a shifty quality that put Emma's back up. She couldn't put her finger on it, but something felt off. She watched him closely as he answered Aedan's questions and noticed that the longer the conversation went on the more edgy Weylon became.

Zevran leaned towards Emma and whispered, "This man reminds me of a frightened rabbit, no?"
She readily agreed in the same low tone and saw that everyone had picked up on the same vibe, and their attention now focused wholly on Weylon. The combination of intense stares and rigorous questioning finally caused the assistant to crack. A pulse of magic indicated Weylon's intent to cast a spell but it quickly faded as Aedan's dagger cut through the air and Weylon's windpipe in one swift movement.

Wiping the blood off his blade, he sheathed it as he spoke, "Let's look around."
Leliana followed the trail of the sickening smell to a small bedroom where they found the body of the real Weylon. His corpse was covered by a sheet and there were a few flies happily buzzing around the rotting flesh. Emma turned away and left the room in case someone decided to pull back the cover; she didn't need to see such an image.
There were books piled everywhere, though none provided any further information about the whereabouts of Brother Genitivi. "I guess we go to Lake Calenhad and see what we can find there," Wynne said as she put down a book she'd been rifling through.

There were many relieved sighs as everyone stepped into the fresh air. A creaking sound drew Emma's attention to a sign rocking back and forth in the light wind. Pale blue lettering proclaimed the shop as The Wonders of Thedas. "Oh, this looks interesting. Do we have time to go inside and look around?"
Wynne backed up the request. "It's been many years since I've been to this shop, they have some fascinating items."
Alistair grinned. "I remember coming to this place with Arl Eamon. He bought me a doll."
Emma raised a brow as the whole group stopped and stared at Alistair in surprise, causing a faint flush to rise up his neck and cover his face. "It was a golem doll, very tough and manly," he defended. There were a few good-natured chuckles as they entered the shop.

Emma wandered around checking out the various goods on display and stopped at the mage robes as her eyes were drawn to one particular dress. A small white label showed the price and listed the various enchantments woven into the deep green fabric intertwined with threads of black and gold. She reached out and touched the material, sighing at the soft velvet and entranced by the shifting colours where her fingers stroked.
"Why don't you try it on? I'm sure it would look wonderful on you." Leliana said. She grabbed the dress and pulled Emma into a small changing room without giving her a chance to reply. The bard crowded in behind her with the dress and a long rectangular box. Leliana's nimble fingers were already unfastening the buttons of Emma's tunic before she could catch her breath.

Amidst a flurry of movement, Emma soon found herself arrayed in a new mage robe that stopped well above the knees with small splits either side. The neckline plunged between her breasts showing anyone who cared to look a decent amount of cleavage. Leliana smiled and handed her a pair of thigh-length boots made of black leather with ties that crisscrossed up the front of the boot. With only a minimal struggle and Leliana's help, Emma eventually got the boots on and stood up for the bard's inspection.
"So, what do you think?"
Leliana's lips turned up in a sultry smile. "I think Aedan is a lucky man."
Emma felt her cheeks heat at the compliment. "I don't know about that. I think I'm the lucky one."
"My dear, I've heard some of the noises you two make so I won't argue with you." She looked Emma over with a thoughtful expression. "Something is missing, yes?"
Emma turned and looked in the mirror, wondering what could be absent, and gasped at the sight of herself. The green of her eyes practically glowed due to the colour of the dress, and the fabric clung to and accentuated her curves. Her shapely legs were encased in soft black leather making a lovely contrast with her pale skin. In truth, she barely recognised herself.

Leliana pulled aside the curtain and stepped back inside. Emma blinked, she hadn't even noticed the rogue leave the dressing room. Leliana held up a soft woollen black cloak, its edges embroidered with gold and green.
Emma's eyes lit up as she reached for the beautiful garment. "Oh, that must have been made for this dress." Then she stopped herself. "I don't think I can afford all this.
Leliana chuckled. "Haven't you checked your purse recently? We've made a substantial amount of gold so you can afford this outfit and have plenty left over."
Emma eyed her sceptically but reached for her purse to check. Even before she loosened the strings, the weight told her she had more money than she'd thought. She gave an excited bounce as Leliana fitted the cloak around her slim shoulders, then fussed around with it, until she eventually pronounced Emma fit to be seen. Leliana stepped out first, then slowly pulled back the curtain for Emma, who stumbled a little as she walked out of the dressing room, being unused to the small wedge heels on the boots.

"Now I remember why I never went shopping with my mother," Aedan complained to Alistair and Zevran, both of whom were looking equally bored.
"Young man, I believe you may change that view if you would care to turn around," Wynne said in a smug tone.
Aedan glanced over to her with a doubtful look before turning to face the back of the store just as Emma walked down the wooden steps. His reaction couldn't have been more gratifying. His eyes widened and immediately filled with heated lust as his gaze worked its way down the whole length of her body and back to her face. There was a low rumble in his chest as he ran to Emma and threw her over his shoulder.
He handed his pouch of gold to Leliana. "Can you pay for this?" Then he ran out of the shop and into the Gnawed Noble Tavern. He stopped a waitress. "I need a room."
The waitress looked startled at the sight before her, but after seeing the grin on Emma's face, she laughed and pointed them down a hallway. Aedan took off at a jog, shouting a word of thanks over his shoulder as Emma hung on for dear life, laughing all the way.

-x-

Emma and Aedan entered the bar some time later and were met with knowing looks from half the customers, and outright grins from their companions.
"If the outfit gets that kind of reaction, I'm thinking I should buy myself something similar."
Zevran sidled up. "My dear Leliana, there is no need. I would happily ravish you, with or without the dress." His smile turned into a leer. "Preferably without."
Leliana slapped his arm and shooed him back to his seat, though her eyes glimmered with amusement and a hint of desire.

After a meal, Aedan spoke with the bartender and picked up a few jobs before they left the tavern. They dropped off a box addressed to Red Jenny which resulted in a nice sum of gold and then wandered around browsing the wares available at the numerous stalls. When they came across a shop that sold armour and weapons, the men eagerly entered, their boredom of shopping instantly forgotten. Emma sat on a barrel, laughing at the easy banter between the two owners of the shop, Wade and Herren. However, the heat from the open furnace made the room stuffy and her damned headache had returned. "I'm going to get some fresh air," she mentioned as she passed Wynne.

Stepping outside, she let the cool breeze wash over her heated skin as she massaged the back of her neck. The sun peeked out from behind white fluffy clouds and she shut her eyes against the stabbing pain from the light. With a hand hovering above her eyes, she moved away from the shop in search of some shade. At the end of the row of houses, she found a nice cool spot hidden from the sun and rested against the wall with a relieved sigh.

A tearful voice interrupted her solitude. "Miss, can ya 'elp me? My dog is stuck an' I can't get 'im out."
She opened her eyes and saw a young lad, no more than ten years old, his face streaked with dirt and his thin body clothed in rags. She scrubbed a hand over her face and pushed away from the wall. "All right, where is he?"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her down a side street. As the shadows closed in, Emma's brain started to work through the headache, causing her to wonder if she'd made a mistake. They'd passed others before turning down the alleyway; why hadn't he approached them for help? There was a tingling at the back of her neck that told her she was in danger. She pulled her hand out of the urchin's grip and started to back up, her eyes darting around as she fought back the first tendrils of panic.

The boy watched her, a nasty smirk playing across his thin lips as his eyes moved to a point past her shoulder. She turned in time to see a heavy cudgel bearing down on her. Pain ripped through her skull as the weapon made contact and lights flashed in front of her eyes, stopping only when unconsciousness claimed her.